May 2011

Despite the dreary weather, the Campus Partner businesses in the Alfred State College area have something to be extra cheerful about this spring: the program generated over $420,000 in sales for the partners during the spring semester which began in January – a 51 percent increase over last year’s sales.

“Our Campus Partner Program is important because it’s a win for everyone. The students love the flexibility it provides, the partners gain a marketing advantage, and the community wins because of the added tax revenue from increased sales,” explained Stephen Schnorr, executive director for Auxiliary Campus Enterprises and Services (ACES), the sponsor of the Campus Partner Program at Alfred State.

ACES actively recruits businesses for the program and also responds to student requests for their favorite off-campus businesses.

“At first, we thought that students would be only interested in Partners who offered a dining alternative, but we were surprised to learn that putting gas in their tank and personal services were high priorities too,” Schnorr said.

"The Campus Partner Program helps students spend their hard-earned money wisely. The wide variety of businesses allows students to interact with the community and have an easy way to meet up with friends in town,” said Joshua Altemoos, an information technology major from Buffalo.

Partners sign up for the program, and then they receive specialized equipment -- similar to a credit card reader -- that swipes the debit account loaded on student IDs. Students also use the debit account at all on-campus dining locations as well as at the campus bookstore.

About ACES

Auxiliary Campus Enterprises & Services (ACES) is a not for profit corporation that supports the mission of Alfred State College. ACES is located on campus and provides dining services, campus bookstore, transportation, vending, and laundry services to our customers.

Mathematics and Physics Department, Alfred State College, has been selected to participate in the annual reading and scoring of the College Board’s Advanced Placement Examinations in June. He will be reading the calculus exams for the ninth consecutive year.

The College Board’s Advanced Placement Program (AP®) gives more than 1.8 million capable high school students an opportunity to take rigorous college-level courses and examinations. Based on their exam performance, successful students can receive credit and/or advanced placement when they enter college.

This year, more than 3.2 million examinations from more than 30 AP courses were evaluated by over 10,000 AP readers from universities and high schools. Representing many of the finest academic institutions in the world, AP readers are made up of professional educators from the United States, Canada, and abroad. The AP reading is a unique forum in which an academic dialogue between high school and college educators is fostered and strongly encouraged.

“The Reading draws upon the talents of some of the finest teachers and professors that the world has to offer,” said Trevor Packer, vice president of the Advanced Placement Program at the College Board. “It fosters professionalism, allows for the exchange of ideas, and strengthens the commitment to students and to teaching. We are very grateful for the contributions of talented educators like Dr. Packard.”

Packard, who joined the ASC faculty in 2003, holds a PhD in mathematics from Tulane University, a bachelor of science of education (BSE) in mathematics from Mansfield University, and a bachelor of science degree in music education from Mansfield State College. Prior to joining the ASC faculty, Packard taught at Kutztown University (PA) and the University of Arkansas, Monticello.

Alfred State College's 2010 graduates distinguished themselves again this year by garnering an employment/transfer record of 99 percent.

The employment and transfer figures are based on an annual survey sent to all ASC graduates; 2010's questionnaire netted a 73 percent response rate from surveyed graduates.

Sixty-two percent of the ’10 graduates who responded to the survey are employed, while 37 percent opted to continue their education. One percent remain available for employment. Among those employed, 95 percent are working in jobs related to their college field of study.

Coupled with the fact that the College has the highest on-time graduation rate of non-specialized, two-year, post-secondary institutions in New York State, the College’s placement and transfer statistics indicate that Alfred State continued to offer a quality education to all students who have the desire and capability to learn.

Alfred State College graduates are prepared to continue their education or find employment in a career-related field. The fact that so many of ASC's graduates are finding career-related jobs with excellent salaries indicates that there are outstanding job opportunities available to the person with the right degree.